Cutter



I Oct. 16, 1928. I 1,687,869

W. P. MARSTON, JR

CUTTER Filed Aug. 29, 1925 amvemfoz flttoww o,

rammed a.. 16, 1928.

- UNITED sTAT't-IS wnmrnr r. mnsron, m, or am cnvsrn, must. I

Application am August as; an. semi no. sagas.

This invention relates to cutters and more particularly for severing cords and wrappers used on packa es.

The object 0 the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient device for opening packages secured either by twine or wra per, the cutting blade of which is adjustab evto suit any thickness of wrapper.

Another .object'of the invention is to provide a device of'thischaracter which combines several operations in one and which also effects a great saving in time because of the fact that it cuts just inside of the knot.

Another object is to provide a device of this character having a blade constructed to be inserted from either .end and is reversible to place it in two or four positions at the will of the user.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes tion;

Figure 2 1s a bottom plan view thereof; and

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

The cutter constitutin this invention comprises a base 1 aperture at its opposite ends as at 2 for securin it to a suitable support. Rising from this base plate at the center thereof is a longitudinally extending blade clamping member in the form of a plate 3 which is preferably formed by striking out the member of suitable shape and slitting the base at 4: and then bending the member up at right angles to the base as is shown clearly in Figure 1.

The upper edge of plate 3 has a downwardly and inwardly inclined recess 5. The upper wall of this recess is rounded as shown at 6 while the lower wall is straight and inclines outwardly gradually as shown at 7 The end of the plate is rounded as shown at 8 and has a notch 9 formed therein.

' tudlnally spaced slots 13 therein which are A cooperating clamping plate 10 shaped to conform to the plate 3 is mountedin the recess formed between the slits 4 and has a base 11 which forms a continuation ofbase 1; when the parts are assembled as shown in Figure 2.

A cutting blade 12 is clamped between the plates 3 and 10 and is here shown made rectangular with transversely extending longie signed to register with re istering apertures formed in the plates 3-and nectin screws 14 which securely connect the blade etween the plates and hold it in adjusted position. Another screw 16-: extends through the ears 15 of the plates 3 and 10 and assists in holding them engaged.

The sidevedges of the-blade 12 are sharpened so that said blade may be reversed and 10 to receive con-.

both ends are notched as shown at 17 for the passage of the inner screw 14- when' the parts are assembled.

This blade 12. when in operative position as shown in Figure 1 has the notch at the inner end thereof engaged with the screw 14 which supports the cuttlng edge in the proper position to cooperation with the curved wall 6 of the recess 5 for cutting twine and the like while the outer upper corner 18thereof projects beyond the end of the clamping plate and is designedfor cutting the wrapper of packages such as newspapers when tightly wrapped.

In the use of this cutter which is primarily intended for opening packages of mail in post offices but which ma be obviously used for other purposes, the ase plate 1 is fastened to a supporting table, bench or the like and when a package secured by twine is designed to be opened, the nose or point 15 is inserted under the twine and the twine moved inwardly against the bladelQ. which severs it quickly and permits opening of the package. This cutting of the twine maybe right at the knot so that a saving in twine is effected. When desired to open newspaper wrappers or wrappers of paper on other packages. the point 18 of the blade which is adjusted the desired length beyond the clamping plates is brought into contact with the wrapper and cuts through. it just a sufiicient distance to sever the wrapperwithout injuring the contents.

From the above description, it will be obvious that this cutter may be cheaply constructed and sold at a nominal price and may be used for cutting twine in stores and the like as well as that wrapped around packages.

I claim 1. A cutter of the class described comprising a base plate having a clamping plate ris ing therefrom and provided in its upper edge with an inwardly inclined recess with an overhanging nose forming one wall thereof, a cooperating clamping plate correspondingly sha ed to the first mentioned plate, said plates aving registering a ertures for fastening screws, and a reversi 1e blade having transversely extending slots to register with the apertures in the clamping plate, said blade having notched ends to permit its reversibility.

2. A device of the class described comprising a plate and means for mounting the plate on a support, the plate having in one edge a recess which defines a nose, a blade disposed against one side of the plate and having a cutting edge which the recess exposes, the cutting edge being disposed opposite to the inner edge of the nose, the blade having a 'trudes, and to re cuttin corner at the outer end of said cuttin e go, the plate being provided with an inc 'ned edge which exposes the cutting cor- 1 ner of the blade, and means for securing the blade for adjustment upon the plate to regulate the extent that the cutting corner prolate the amount of the cutting edge that is exposed by the recess.

3. A device of the class described comprising a plate and means for mounting the (plate on a support, the plate having in one e ge a recess which defines a nose, clamping elements carried by the plate, a blade having oppositely disposed cutting edges, the blade havin notches in its ends and transverse slots isposed adjacent to the notches, the blade being reversible to dispose either cutting edge opposite to the nose, and the blade being capable of end for end reversal so that one clamping element may be received in either slot, and the other clamping element be received in either notch.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature.

WILLIAM P. MARSTON, JR. 

